The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-22

| ing information about some of the en-
| terprises of our city, which will prove
interesting Sunday reading for our home
/ people. and from which they can pick
out texts for many practical week day
sermons. The first place Va ited by the
/ reporter was the
J. T. 4 X. W. R'Y. SHOPS.
tt. g extensive shops, situated at the
| junction of Oak street and the main
and among the largest to he found in the
State. The shops present a busy scene
and an immense amount of work is done
there for other roads as well as all the
| repair work for the Jacksonville, Tampa
and Key West Railway.
+ Forty-five first-class machinists and
artisans are employed, besides a small
| army of unskilled help, and the work is
done in a remarkably short time when
once in the skilled hands of the machin-
| lists.
j. III. Burnett is the master mechanic,
and each department is presided over by
| a foreman. So systematic is everything
arranged that in an instant it is known
what each man is doing, what and how
many tools he uses. and the probable
time he will be engaged on a job. In
the machinery department can be found
| every machine necessary for the work
required in such an establishment.
Among the more noticeable machines
are five engine lathes, from fourteen to
fortytwo inches in size, one double
head driving wheel lathe, a planer,
shaper, upright drill, slotting machine,
nut-tapping machine, cutter grinder,
milling machine, speed lathe, axle lathe,
machine for boring car wheels, two
powerful hydraulic presses for forcing
wheels on the axles. and i'm fact every
conceivable kind of machine that
could be used in such an es-
tablishment. They are kept clean and
i'm the best condition. The motive power
is furnished by "A powerful stationery
engine, and the top of the building is a
net work of shafts and bands.
Joining this room is the blacksmith
shops, fitted with steam forges, ham
mers and every possible convenience.
Next TO this, on the north, is the wood
work department, also supplied with
every necessary tool and machine,
where some very fine work is turned out.
Separated from the main building and
off to the south, is the immense paint
shop, where a number of men are kept
busily employed. About one hundred
yards to the east, is the supply store
where every supply needed by the va
rious departments of the shops are kept.
A feature about the establishment is
the tool room where every tool needed is
made and kept in place. The machinery
in this room is very fine, and everything
from the most delicate to the most pom
derous tool is made and kept in repair.
These shops are quite an institution in
Palatka, and is the means of distributing
large amount of money in our city
each month.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN RAILWAY SHOPS.
We have had occasion frequently i'm
the past to mention the large and COM
plete shops of this company, operated in
this city. The shops are among the
largest and most complete establishments
of the kind to be found in the South. Ii
is under the management of William
Rutherford, the general master mechanic
! of the Florida Southern Railway. The
shops are supplied with every needed
piece of machinery, and all the repair
work of the Florida Southern system, ,and
some work for other railroads is done
there.
About seventy skilled machinists and
skilled workmen are employed in the
shops, and that force is greatly increased
in winter, when all the running stock of
the road is in operation. In addition to
the machine, wood and paint depart
ments, there is large foundry attached
where all kinds of mouldings are made,
and where also great deal of general
work is done for the public.
1t requires large sum of money to
keep these shops in operation, and the
trade it brings our merchants amounts
men employed have families and homes
in the city.
ORANGE BOX AND SHINGLE MILL.
On the Bay, out River street, Capt. T..
c. Butler has one of the most complete
little mills to be found in the South.
latest improved machinery for the man.
ufacture of oranges boxes, vegetable
crates and shingles Large guam
titles of boxes and crates are
made there and shipped to all parts of
the State and on account of their excel
lence and cheapness command ready sale.
But the principal product of the mill is
shingles, of which thirty thousand are
turned out each day when the mill is in
operation. These shingles go to all parts
of the State, and they are made in the
very best manner out of good timber.
uniform size, and are justly popular
among experienced builders.
GEM CITY FLAMING MILLS.
This extensive establishment, located
at the junction of Lemon street and the
Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West
Railway, does a great deal of work. A
saw mill is run in connection with the
planer and a great many logs are used
there. The mill is thoroughly equipped
with machinery, and besides saving,
planning, matching, ETC., all classes Of
scroll work and mouldings are made.
These mills are kept pretty busy, and are
constantly turning out orders for all
points in this section of the State. The
establishment is under the management